The District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification. CTE is a proven strategy for engaging students, effectively connecting them to college and careers, increasing high school graduation rates, and improving labor market outcomes for high school graduates. CTE certifications are industry-endorsed assessments that are designed to indicate an individual’s ability and competence in a given field of work. Many CTE programs of study culminate in such a certification exam. As a component of the District’s CTE Strategic Plan, the CTE Certification Program promotes the District’s mission to strengthen the pipeline to college and careers.

The purpose of the CTE Certification Program is to (1) increase the number of students who earn industry certification within high-wage and high-demand fields and, (2) to provide employers with qualified District resident applicants as vacancies arise.  Students and their families are expected to cover the cost of exam fees. These associated costs may be a hardship for some families. With the overarching goal to address students’ needs, the CTE Certification Program is a critical element to realizing this objective. Specifically, the fund will be used to support District students who have participated in CTE priority programs of study but fail to take the exam because they cannot afford to do so.

Eligibility

The CTE Certification Program grant application is open to all DC Public Schools, public charter schools, and the University of the District of Columbia Community College.

2018 CTE Certification Program Grant Application

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